[Marxism] Mumia Abu-Jamal: Another Try for Justice for The 5

[Walter Lippmann <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Mumia Abu-Jamal, known as "the voice of the voiceless" has been 
sitting on Pennsylvania's Death Row for over twenty-five years.

Just like the Cuban Five, Mumia was convicted of a crime he did
not commit He spends most of his time writing and speaking out in
protest against the injustices faced by others. Mumia's appeal
was heard at the Third Circuit Court of Appeals on May 17. 
There could be a decision in Mumia's case at any time.

If the court rules against Mumia, there will be emergency protests
the day after the decision. Sponsored by the Partisan Defense
Committee and the Labor Black League for Social Defense. Were it
not for the relentless efforts of such organizations as the PDC,
Mumia would long-since have been dead and buried. I support these
protests. Everyone should support come out and support them, too.

Details:
http://www.partisandefense.org/events/index.html


Walter Lippmann, CubaNews
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/ 
=================================================================

JUVENTUD REBELDE
Another Try for Justice for The 5
By: Mumia Abu-Jamal
2007-09-14 | 18:50:29 EST

http://www.juventudrebelde.co.cu/columnists/2007-09-14/another-try-for-justice-for-the-5/

For five Cuban men held in US gulags, there is at least a chance at justice as 
they
try to reverse what happened in 2001, when they were convicted of spying, 
conspiracy
and unregistered foreign agent charges.

The men, known as the Cuban 5 in the US, and simply Los Cinco back in their 
homeland,
came to the US, not to hurt Americans, or to engage in acts of terror. They came
because Miami was the site of a fevered campaign of attacks on Cuban tourist 
sites,
and thus, they came to protect their country from aggression planned, armed, and
propelled from these shores.

In the eyes of the US government, however, they are now part of the so-called 
"war
on terror", and at their original trial, the prosecutor argued that they were
"bent on the destruction of America."

Such an argument would be dangerous anywhere, but in Miami, where the original 
trial
took place, it was virtually lethal. For Miami is the core of an anti-Castro 
community,
that breathes enmity for the revolutionary government in Havana.

A trial in such an atmosphere, where Cuban-Americans wield economic and 
political
power, is the very antithesis of a fair trial before oneâs peers, and could 
only
have one result. The men moved for a change of venue, but the trial court denied
the motion.

Of the 5 men, Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon LabaÃino and Antonio Guerrero, are 
facing
life sentences. Two others, Renà Gonzalez and Fernando Gonzalez, face 15 and 
19 
years bits, respectively.

To call them "terrorists" is to misuse the term, for, if anything, they
are anti-terrorists, - for they tried to find ways to halt attacks on their 
homeland,
Cuba.

In an interview with the BBC in July, Hernandez explained why he and the others 
came to the US: "They are people that have got training camps there and 
paramilitary
organisations and they go to Cuba and commit sabotage, bombs and all kinds of 
aggressions."

The case of the Cuban 5 is one in stark contrast to the legal proceedings around
79-year old Luis Posada Carriles, who was released from US jails, despite the 
fact
that he is wanted in Venezuela and Cuba for his role in hotel bombings and even 
airline bombings from the 1970âs to the 90âs.

To the US, this gay who did his deeds at the behest of the CIA isnât even a 
criminal,
heâs not a terrorist!

Bombings hotels and airplanes is apparently acceptable, if the US government 
doesnât
like the people on the planes.

The struggle for the Cuban 5 is growing into an international movement.

================================
WALTER LIPPMANN
Editor-in-Chief, CubaNews
writer - photographer - activist
http://www.walterlippmann.com
================================

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